A New Direction for EDDC

Working with other councillors, the council will no longer be led by the Conservatives and their closely allied independents. Huge congratulations to all our LibDem councillors for showing how to work collaboratively with a range of people to enable the change mandated last May. Congratulations especially go to our very experienced LibDem councillor Eileen Wragg who has been voted in as Deputy Leader.

Statement:

At the local elections last year, Conservative control of East Devon Council was decisively rejected. The eight strong group of Liberal Democrats had high hopes this would be the start of a better future for East Devon. We hoped that the new independent administration would be willing to promote change; setting a new course, and working with all groups in promoting a culture of openness, accountability and tolerance. Instead, it seems that, for the ruling group of independents supported by Tories, it was business as usual, continuing the inertia and wasted opportunity of previous years.

While this has been a source of huge frustration for Liberal Democrats, the past year has also given us the opportunity to work with other councillors, some in other political parties and some with no party label, who share a progressive approach to local government. We find that we share a common purpose in working for urgent action to address climate change and sustainability, and in promoting fairness, accountability and democracy. That is why we have now come together to form the Democratic Alliance and to take up the opportunity of providing East Devon Council with fresh, energetic and progressive leadership which includes our very experienced LibDem Cllr Eileen Wragg as Deputy Leader. Last May, East Devon residents voted for change - and that is the electoral mandate which, in partnership with our colleagues, we now aim to fulfil.